Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H. VIOLETT. GAR COUPLING.

Np. 421,299. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

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' 2 Sheets She e't 2.- W. H. VIOLETT. GAR COUPLING- (No Model.)

Patented Oct. 13, 1891..

t I v J I WITNESSES A TTOBNE Y8 through the link.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. VIOLETT, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,299, dated October 13, 1891.

Application filed February 18, 1891. Serialllo. 381,992- (No model.)

' and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinatterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a car provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view of the draw-head provided with the improvements. Fig. 3 isa vertical longitudinal section. Fig.

4 is a top plan view thereof; and Figs. 5, 6,

and 7 are detail views.

lhe draw-head A may in general respects be of ordinary form, having the link-mortise B and the upper and lower pin-holes O 0',

the pin D being arranged to operate in the holes 0 O and adapted to secure the link E. A swinging pin-support F is pivoted by trunnions G at its upper end to the draw-head and swings in the link-mortise in position for engagement by the link as the latter enters the draw-head and to rest upon the inner end of such link, when held in the draw-head, to hold the opposite or outer end of the link in position to enter the meeting draw-head. The trunnions G are held in their bearings by the plates H, secured by set-screws h. An extension I projects above one of the trunnions and serves to operate the auxiliary pinsupporting devices hereinafter described. The swinging pin-support F is adapted at f to serve as a rest for the pin when such support is in its normal position, and when pushed back by the entering link the support F is moved free of the pin and the latter falls The support F then rests upon the inner end of the link and serves to hold the outer end elevated, the bottom wall of the link-mortise B being provided at its front end with a ledge or elevation forming a fulcrum for the link. This bearing of the pin-supportupon the inner end of the link does not prevent the lateral play of the link, as will be readily understood.

The operation of the parts above described is as follows: If the pin be raised, the link being out of the draw-head, the support F will swing by gravity forward under the pin and the latter will rest upon the support. Then the link entering the draw-head will strike the support, push it back, and the pin will fall through the link and secure it.

To enable the uncoupling to be effected from either side or top of the car,I provide a lever J, pivoted at one end in bearings J to the car and having its outer end connected by a chain j with the pin, so that the lifting of such lever will also lift the'pin. An abutment j, connected with the bearing J and projecting below the lever J, serves to limit the downward movement of. the lever. A connection J consisting, as shown, of a rod and chain, extends-from the lever J through suitable guides to the top of the car, so that the said lever J may be lifted from such point. Levers J pivot at j? to the end of the car and project at their outer ends to the sides of the car and at their inner ends below the lever J, the said inner ends of the levers J being heavier than the outerends, so that they will not operate the lever J by their gravity. Thus the cars may be uncoupled without requiring the brakeman to go between them, and they may be automatically coupled, as before described.

Now it is often desirable to so adjust the coupling pin or pins of a train when the cars are bumped or pushed together that the cars will uncouple whenthe engine pulls out. To this end I provide what, for convenience of reference, 1 term the auxiliary pin-support, which, when the pin is lifted without withdrawing the link, adjusts below said pin and holds it elevated, so that when the cars are drawn out the link may escape. The swinging pin-support is arranged and adapted to operate the auxiliary pin-support, so that when the swinging support swings forward when the link is Withdrawn the swinging or main pin-support will'adjust the auxiliary pin-support out of position to support the pin. Thus it will be seen that the auxiliary pinsupport does not operate to support the pin, except when the pin is raised, Without withdrawing the link, so that the main or swinging pin-support is held bythe said link in its rearmost or. pushed back position in the draw-head.

In the construction shown the auxiliary pinsupport K comprises a plate L, formed and adapted to swing or turn on an axis Z under the lower end of the pin. Ashaft M connects with the plate L in line with axis Z. To this shaft M is connected a link N, to which is pivoted a dog 0, arranged to be actuated in one direction by spring P to force the plate L below the coupling-pin and adapted at 2' for engagement by the extension or portion I of the main pin-support. As the main pinsupport swings forward to its normal position, its part I operates the auxiliary pin-support in opposition to its spring P and moves the plate L clear of the coupling-pin. WVhen the main pin-support is swungback, its part I permits the spring P to move the parts 0 N M to adjust the plate L against the coupling-pin when such pin is lowered and below such pin when it is raised, as will be understood from the drawings.

The draw-head is cast with an upwardlyprojecting portion Q, which serves as a protection and shield for the parts L, M, N, O, and I. x

The main pin-support F is provided on its upper side atf with a seat for the coupling pin, and has an inclined surface F leading up to said seat, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new isv 1. Acar-eoupling, substantially as descri bed, comprising the draw-head, a coupling-pin, a main pin-support arranged and adapted to support the pin when the latter is elevated and the link withdrawn, an auxiliary pinsupport arranged and adapted to support the pin when the latter is elevated and the link not withdrawn, and intermediate mechanism whereby the main pin-support on resuming its normal position as the link is withdrawn will adjust the auxiliary pin-support out of position to support the pin, substantially as set forth.

2. In acar-coupling, the combination of the draw-head, the coupling-pin, the main pin-support, the auxiliary pin-support arranged for engagement by an extension or portion of the main pin-support, and a springactuated device by which to operate such aux iliary pin-support in opposition to the swinging pin-support, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head, the main pin-support arranged to swing within the link-mortise of the drawhead and having an upwardly-projected extension or portion,the auxiliary pin-supporting plate, a dog connected therewith and arranged for engagement by the extension or portion of the swinging pin-support, and the spring engaging such dog, all being arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. An improved car-coupling having a drawhead, a coupling-pin, a main pin-support, and an auxiliary pin-support, the main pin-support being arranged and adapted to ad ust the auxiliary support out of position to hold the pin when it (the main pin-support) is in.

nected with plate L, the link N, connected with the shaft M, the dog 0, connected with the link N, the spring engaging said dog,

and the main pin-support having an extension or portion arranged to engage the said dog, all substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

'7. The improved car-coupling comprising the draw-head and the pin-support pivoted to swing within the link-mortise, provided on its upper sidewith a seat for the coupllngpin, and having a surface F leading up to the said seat, such surface being inclined with respect to the seat, substantially as shown and described.

S. The improved ear-coupling herein described, comprising the draw-head, the coupling-pin, the main pin-support, and the auxiliary pin-support,arranged to be actuated 111 one direct-ion by a spring and in the opposite direction by the main pin-support, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The improved car-coupling herein described, consisting of the draw-head, the coupling-pin support, the auxiliary pin-support,

the spring for operating such auxiliary support in one direction, the lever pivoted at one end to the end of the car and connected at its outer end with the coupling-pin, the connection extending from said lever to the top of the car, and the side levers bearing at their inner ends under the said lever and extending to the opposite sides of the car, substantially as set forth.

WVILLIAM H. VIOLETT; Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. MARsH, WALTER L. MULKEY. 

